Fort Worth Stockyards
Time Needed: full-day
Experience Type: American icon, historic landmark
Step into the Old West at the Fort Worth Stockyards, where cowboy heritage comes alive through cattle drives, rodeos, and rustic walkways. Once the heart of Texas cattle trading, this National Historic District buzzes with shops, saloons, and Western entertainment for all ages.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Watch the Cattle Drive – Twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., real Texas drovers herd longhorns down East Exchange Avenue in an unforgettable Western spectacle.
- Take a Walking Tour – Join a guided stroll through the Stockyards to hear tales of cowboys, railroads, and outlaws—or try a nighttime ghost tour.
- Ride the Grapevine Vintage Railroad – Hop aboard this historic train for a scenic ride between the Stockyards and Grapevine, complete with vintage railcars and period charm.
- Explore the Museums – Visit the Stockyards Museum, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and John Wayne: An American Experience for authentic cowboy culture and cinematic nostalgia.
- Attend a Rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum – Experience bull riding, bronc busting, and barrel racing at the world’s only year-round rodeo every Friday and Saturday night.
Itinerary Idea: Book a four-hour guided tour with a local historian to explore Fort Worth’s Wild West history. Visit the Stockyards, see the daily cattle drive, step inside the Cowtown Coliseum, browse the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and stroll historic streets of Fort Worth.
Photo Credit: Brent Moore/Flickr